Experts urge Ramaphosa to appoint acting top cop amid tender probe

With National Police Commissioner Fannie Masomola’s future uncertain, some suggest appointing an acting commissioner with a clean record is the best way forward.

Masemola is in hot water after the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) issued him with a summons to appear in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court over an irregular R360 million police tender.

The disputed contract was awarded to Medicare24, a company owned by alleged tender fraudster Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.

READ: ANALYSIS | Top cop trouble: What should Ramaphosa do?

Masemola is being investigated for breaches of the Public Finance Management Act related to oversight failures and not corruption-related charges.

The Presidency has not ruled out the possibility of appointing an acting national police commissioner, nor has it ruled out delegating Fannie Masemola’s responsibilities to a deputy commissioner.

President Cyril Ramaphosa recently told journalists that he’s still engaging the relevant authorities on whether Fannie Masemola should be placed on special leave as he deals with the pending charges against him.

Policing expert Willem Els said that that with public confidence in the police service at an all-time low, appointing a clean and untainted acting commissioner would be a sensible approach.

"If they appoint an acting commissioner who is able to provide guidance and leadership in a very visible manner, then it might also be possible to restore the trust of the public in the police."

Els added that suspending Masemola could be legally contested since he’s not facing corruption charges, but possible Public Finance Management Act violations.